"With no other inputs into the equation and with no outside influence or past incidents to work with, scratching Mika Zibanejad was the right decision. Team rules are team rules and they apply to everyone with no exceptions. Zibanejad missed a team meeting, and even though he made it to the morning skate, and the rules applied to him. It doesn't matter if he hit traffic or if the roads were bad. Everyone else made it to the meeting in the same conditions."
"Zibanejad is an adult. He didn't leave himself enough time to get to practice. It's a mistake. It happens. This is owning his mistake. 2. Accountability is a funny thing. Again in a vacuum without any other inputs to the situation, scratching Mika Zibanejad was fine. He was held accountable for missing the meeting. The nuance above is a valid point, but in the end a rule is a rule and again Zibanejad is an adult who made a mistake. The consequence was missing the game."
"For over a decade, people have asked for accountability, especially towards veterans. But when it happened, all of a sudden it was "no, not like that." The counter argument that it wasn't "on the ice" is very flawed. A team is a team on and off the ice. It's part of the new culture that comes with Mike Sullivan. If you want a new culture, one that gets buy-in from everyone, then the rules apply to everyone."
Mika Zibanejad was scratched after missing a team meeting prior to a morning skate, prompting divided fan reactions. Enforcing the rule treated Zibanejad like any other player, emphasizing that team rules apply equally regardless of excuses such as traffic. The decision served as an example of accountability, reinforcing that off-ice behavior matters as part of team culture. The change aligns with a new culture under Mike Sullivan that demands buy-in from all players. Selective enforcement undermines accountability, so consistent application of rules is presented as necessary to maintain team standards.
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